Commissioners weigh in on proposed sales tax hike

Published: Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at 03:15 PM.

CRESTVIEW — A proposal to increase the local sales tax to generate more money for storm water and drainage improvements could be delayed until 2015.

Okaloosa County Commissioners discussed the idea – put forth by Commissioner Dave Parisot in May – at their Tuesday meeting.

Parisot has urged the board to place the one-cent tax hike on the November general election ballot for approval by local voters.

Other commissioners said they want to move more slowly and suggested pushing the referendum to the spring of 2015 to coincide with the next municipal elections.

“I don’t want us to rush to put something on a ballot to appear to be fixing a problem,” Commissioner Nathan Boyles said. “... If we’re going to engage in a long-term fix, let’s take the time to do it right.”

Commissioner Wayne Harris said the key to passing the referendum is winning over the cities and the general public.

“We have to be judicious about this, and we’ve also got to sell it,” Harris said. “... We have to inform the public of what we’re using (the money) for. We have to be very specific.”

Commissioner Don Amunds said he was “leery of trying to cram” the referendum into the 90 days it would take to place it on the November ballot.
“I don’t think we have enough details,” he said.

Parisot expressed frustration with delaying the referendum and predicted, “this can will get kicked down the road.”

He also said moving the referendum to 2015 could cost the county as much as $100,000 because municipal elections don’t use as many polling places as countywide general elections and will require paying to open more.

Commissioners will discuss the proposal next at their June 17 meeting in Fort Walton Beach.

Under Parisot’s proposal, the county and its nine municipalities would agree to offset the increase with a reduction of property tax rates if the referendum passes.

The sales tax hike is would provide an estimated $32.6 million in additional revenue, with about $21.8 million going to the county and about $10.8 million to be divided among the nine cities and towns.

CRESTVIEW — A proposal to increase the local sales tax to generate more money for storm water and drainage improvements could be delayed until 2015.

Okaloosa County Commissioners discussed the idea – put forth by Commissioner Dave Parisot in May – at their Tuesday meeting.

Parisot has urged the board to place the one-cent tax hike on the November general election ballot for approval by local voters.

Other commissioners said they want to move more slowly and suggested pushing the referendum to the spring of 2015 to coincide with the next municipal elections.

“I don’t want us to rush to put something on a ballot to appear to be fixing a problem,” Commissioner Nathan Boyles said. “... If we’re going to engage in a long-term fix, let’s take the time to do it right.”

Commissioner Wayne Harris said the key to passing the referendum is winning over the cities and the general public.

“We have to be judicious about this, and we’ve also got to sell it,” Harris said. “... We have to inform the public of what we’re using (the money) for. We have to be very specific.”

Commissioner Don Amunds said he was “leery of trying to cram” the referendum into the 90 days it would take to place it on the November ballot.
“I don’t think we have enough details,” he said.

Parisot expressed frustration with delaying the referendum and predicted, “this can will get kicked down the road.”

He also said moving the referendum to 2015 could cost the county as much as $100,000 because municipal elections don’t use as many polling places as countywide general elections and will require paying to open more.

Commissioners will discuss the proposal next at their June 17 meeting in Fort Walton Beach.

Under Parisot’s proposal, the county and its nine municipalities would agree to offset the increase with a reduction of property tax rates if the referendum passes.

The sales tax hike is would provide an estimated $32.6 million in additional revenue, with about $21.8 million going to the county and about $10.8 million to be divided among the nine cities and towns.